Industry - All-day warning strikes after inconclusive steel collective bargaining round
IG Metall has announced all-day warning strikes in the wage dispute in the north-west German and east German steel industry. "After both sides took steps towards a solution model on the issue of working hours in many areas, the attempt to reach an agreement then failed primarily on the issue of the pay increase," said Knut Giesler, lead negotiator for the north-west German steel industry, on Tuesday morning after the fourth round of negotiations without a result. The first 24-hour warning strikes were to begin in the morning. According to IG Metall, other companies will then follow suit.
Warning strikes have also been announced for the steel industry in eastern Germany. "The employers show no willingness to increase wages appropriately and reduce working hours significantly," said Dirk Schulze, lead negotiator for the eastern steel industry. IG Metall canceled the round of negotiations planned for Tuesday for the eastern steel industry.
The steel employers' association described IG Metall's ideas as "completely exaggerated". "IG Metall's attitude of measuring the employers' financial offers solely against their own exaggerated expectations and not against the financial possibilities of the companies in the face of an impending economic crisis is completely irresponsible," said Managing Director Gerhard Erdmann.
According to IG Metall, the employers have offered a one-off payment of 1,000 euros for January 2024 and a pay rise of 3.5 percent from July 2024 with a total term of 19 months. "This offer is so far removed from a possible final result that we have decided to end the negotiations," said Giesler. Among other things, the union is demanding a wage increase of 8.5 percent for a term of twelve months as well as a 32-hour week with full wage compensation.
Around 68,000 people are employed in the steel and iron industry in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen and Lower Saxony, and around 8,000 in the East German steel industry. The next round of negotiations for the West is scheduled for December 15 in Düsseldorf. Negotiations for the East German steel industry will continue on December 18.
IG Metall statement
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- The steel employers' association criticized IG Metall's demands as "completely exaggerated," citing the financial challenges facing the steel industry and the looming economic crisis.
- The failure to reach an agreement in the latest round of negotiations led IG Metall to announce a round of warning strikes in the steel industry across both north-west and east Germany.
- The steel industry in Germany is a significant employer, with around 68,000 people working in the north-west and around 8,000 in the east.
- Despite the employers offering a one-off payment of 1,000 euros for January 2024 and a 3.5% pay rise from July 2024, IG Metall is demanding a more substantial increase of 8.5% over 12 months and a shift to a 32-hour workweek with full wage compensation.
- Tariffs on imported steel may impact the bargaining process, as the steel industry is already grappling with high energy and raw material costs.
- German car manufacturers, heavily reliant on steel, have expressed concern about the potential consequences of the ongoing collective bargaining conflict on the steel industry and the broader economy.
Source: www.stern.de
